Spiritual Gifts: Romans 8 – I Corinthians 14

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You can find a one-year Bible reading plan here.

One doesn’t usually turn to Romans 1 to study spiritual gifts, but the term is there in black and white. “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you.” Paul said that he wanted to use his gifts to strengthen them. The emphasis isn’t on a particular gift but on the use of one’s gift and the grace which pours out through the use of the gift. In the passage from Romans 1 the gift will be used to strengthen another’s faith. No mention here of the catalog of gifts. Rather, Paul stresses the importance of using one’s gift to strengthen another believer. The door is open to do whatever one can, by grace, to help build up another believer. The particular gift doesn’t matter, only that grace is extended to a brother or sister to strengthen their faith.

Grace is the life-blood that unites the many organs of our church body. We distribute that grace to each other through our giftedness. John Piper has said that grace is the currency in the household of God and that spiritual gifts are abilities through which we receive God’s grace and distribute it to others. Can you see that the nature of the gift we employ is less important than the distribution of grace? If you are my brother or sister in need of God’s grace, then I should use whatever gifts God has given me to meet your need and strengthen your faith. Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 go on to list the various gifts. Each believer may be especially gifted in one or more of these categories, but my point today is that in a particular situation with a brother in need, however you meet that need and extend God’s grace is a use of spiritual giftedness. It’s not about you and your gift, but it’s all about grace meeting another’s need and thereby glorifying God.

Peter said the purpose of gifts was to serve one another for the glory of God (I Peter 4:10-11). Paul said we are to use our gifts for the common good (I Corinthians 12:7). As you read about the various categories of gifts this week, remember that you can use any of them in particular situations to distribute God’s grace as the need arises. Don’t fret about your specific gift. Extend grace in whatever way God provides and that will be your gift.

About this blog

During 2020 I plan to post weekly writings covering the material you would read during each week as you proceed from Genesis to Revelation in one year. And so for this week I have covered Romans 8 – I Corinthians 14. Next week I will write about I Corinthians 15 – Ephesians 3. I hope you will continue along with me. You can find daily posts about these chapters archived here on the Bible in a Year blog. For your convenience here are the previous posts covering Romans 8 – I Corinthians 14.

In the fight, but already victorious: Romans 8

Mind, body, and God’s will: Romans 12

A tale of two Christians: Romans 14

Powerful foolishness: I Corinthians 1-4

Sexual sin: I Corinthians 5-7

Running for the prize: I Corinthians 9

Spiritual gifts in use: I Corinthians 12-14

Paul: a life on trial: Acts 16 – Romans 7

You can find a one-year Bible reading plan here.

Paul dominates the last half of the book of Acts. The events recorded there reveal a life on trial. First there were the trials brought on by the rigors of travel and the persecutions of men. Then there were the legal trials culminating in his imprisonment. Rather than limiting Paul’s work, his trials magnified his witness.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Acts 16:25

Paul’s hymn singing in jail affected the prisoners around him, and after an earthquake freed him and Silas, their witness led to the entire jailer’s household becoming believers.

I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:23-24

Paul was not deterred by opposition. Here we see one reason why: he valued his own life as nothing but made his witness the utmost priority.

Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.” After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them…

Acts 21:39-40

When Paul returned to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey, militant Jews were ready to kill him, but the tumult around him led to an opportunity to preach to the entire mob. And in the coming months he spoke his full testimony, even though imprisoned, to governors and kings.

“Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ “

Acts 27:21-24

In the face of death, Paul gave a rock-solid testimony to everyone on the ship carrying him to Rome. The truth of his words was soon demonstrated and it must have been a powerful witness to the lost. While awaiting trial in Rome, Luke states that Paul proclaimed the truth about Jesus “with all boldness and without hindrance.”

Acts demonstrates how Paul witnessed in spite of trials, but the book of Romans spells out the gospel truth that put the fire of perseverance in him. Paul wrote Romans during his third missionary journey, most likely from Corinth as he was preparing to return to Jerusalem. Consider the thrust of the first few chapters of the book to gain an understanding of the truth that drove Paul’s testimony. He first writes about the problem of sin, showing how it enslaves and threatens all men whether Jew or Gentile (1:1 to 3:20). Paul then reveals the plan of salvation in which Jesus offered himself as the atoning sacrifice for all believers (3:21 to 5:19). Finally he reveals the process of sanctification which the Spirit makes possible (6:1-8:39). Paul was convinced of these truths and knew that all men needed to know them as well as he did. The Spirit used these truths to power Paul’s witness in spite of many trials.

About this blog

During 2020 I plan to post weekly writings covering the material you would read during each week as you proceed from Genesis to Revelation in one year. And so for this week I have covered Acts 16 – Romans 7. Next week I will write about Romans 8 – I Corinthians 14. I hope you will continue along with me. You can find daily posts about these chapters archived here on the Bible in a Year blog. For your convenience here are the previous posts covering Acts 16 – Romans 7.

Philosophy Wars: Acts 17

Speaking in tongues: Acts 19

His life for a witness: Acts 21-23

Almost Persuaded: Acts 24-26

A most prosperous shipwreck: Acts 27-28

Which path are you on? Romans 1-3

This grace in which we stand: Romans 4-7

The Spirit and the Spread: John 19 – Acts 15

You can find a one-year Bible reading plan here.

John’s gospel closes with Jesus very much on the earth and fellowshipping with his disciples, even eating meals with them. As soon as Acts open Jesus moves to the heavens. But before he goes he promises them two things: the Holy Spirit will be with them to power their ministry, and their ministry will spread to the ends of the earth. Acts details the fulfillment of those promises as the church grows rapidly through the power of the Spirit and spreads rapidly through the movement of the church.

The first act of the Spirit sets the example. The Spirit manifested itself by miraculous speaking in foreign languages, but the Spirit worked to bring 3000 new believers into the church. By implication, though unsaid, the foreign-speaking believers returned to their homelands after their time in Jerusalem and carried the Gospel with them. They started the spread.

The Spirit manifested itself by acts of healing, through Peter’s powerful preaching, through personal testimony to the reality of the Savior, through sacrificial giving, and by bravery in the face of persecution. “So the word of God spread” (6:7). The church penetrated Jerusalem to such an extent that it resulted in vigorous attempts to terminate its activities and its members, but by God’s grace this only accelerated the movement of church members throughout the surrounding countries. Like Joseph in Egypt, God used the harmful efforts of men for his own good purposes.

The greatest movement was not physical, however, but cultural. Through Peter’s vision of the clean and unclean animals being equally allowed by God, and through the anointing of Paul “to proclaim (God’s) name among the Gentiles,” the doors were opened to take the gospel across a divide greater than any material distance. As Paul later described, a mystery was revealed, that God had planned all along to bring the entire world to himself. 

About this blog

During 2020 I plan to post weekly writings covering the material you would read during each week as you proceed from Genesis to Revelation in one year. And so for this week I have covered John 19 – Acts 15. Next week I will write about Acts 16 – Romans 7. I hope you will continue along with me. You can find daily posts about these chapters archived here on the Bible in a Year blog. For your convenience here are the previous posts covering John 19 – Acts 15.

No substitution

Jesus changes everything: John 21

Who can forgive sins?

The church is born: Acts 2

Worthy to suffer shame: Acts 5

Baptism Controversies: Acts 8

Reaching the Gentiles: Acts 10

Paul’s Gospel for the Jews: Acts 13

A Dispute over the Law: Acts 15

Eternal vs. Everlasting Life: John 3 – 18

You can find a one-year Bible reading plan here.

You are not to labour for that which you cannot get without labour, and you are to labour for that which you cannot get by labour. . .God grant us grace to practice the meaning of these words. Why are ye so eager to get a bit of barley bread and a fish? Oh, that you were half as eager to come and get the bread which comes from heaven which will make a man live for ever, and which will be food to him as long as he lives.

Charles Spurgeon

John’s gospel is full of references to eternal life. It’s easy to read those words – eternal life – and picture a future heavenly existence completely separate from our present worldly being. But is that what Jesus had in mind? Eternity is something foreign to us, but a better translation of the word may be everlasting, and that we can begin to grasp. It implies a life that exists now and continues to exist. Everlasting life is the way of living now as well as into eternity for those who believe in Jesus.

Everlasting life comes from God’s word

“Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” 5:24

“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.” 5:39

Everlasting life requires faith

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 3:16

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. 3:36

Everlasting life requires knowing Jesus

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” 17:3

Everlasting life is spirit life

“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 4:14

“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” 6:27

“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” 12:25

Everlasting life is secured by Jesus

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” 10:28

“For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.” 17:2

Everlasting life leads to resurrection

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” 6:40

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” 6:54

About this blog

During 2020 I plan to post weekly writings covering the material you would read during each week as you proceed from Genesis to Revelation in one year. And so for this week I have covered John 3 – 18. Next week I will write about John 19 – Acts 15. I hope you will continue along with me. You can find daily posts about these chapters archived here on the Bible in a Year blog. For your convenience here are the previous posts covering John 3 – 18.

Witness like Jesus: John 4

Hard to swallow: John 6

Shining a light: John 8

Since I have a shepherd: John 10

Planted in God’s garden: John 12

Resolved, to be… John 13-15

Not of this world: John 17